War memories of photojournalist Rikard Larma who captured the siege of Sarajevo through his lens

(Patria) - A new installment of the documentary series The Story Behind the Photo brings the story of the work and life of Bosnian photographer Rikard Larma, whose photographs have become a testament to the siege of Sarajevo.

Džemil Hodžić, the man behind the Sniper Alley Photo project, told the portal Odgovor that this is the eleventh episode within the series.

"We are currently working on four more films that will be part of the third season. Each episode is unique in its own way but also similar in the approach to capturing the photography profession. This time we are joined by Bosnian photojournalist Rikard Larma, who shares with us memories from the siege of the city of Sarajevo as well as details from his private life," he says.

Larma is a Bosnian photographer whose work remains a lasting testament to the suffering of Sarajevo during the siege. He was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and lives and works between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina. His extensive professional experience encompasses a wide range of activities, from current news, magazine, theatre, film, television, and sports photography to documentary photographs from Sarajevo under siege.

"My first massacre was when I saw a shell hit the wall of a building; a person doesn't know how to react. There was a huge cloud of smoke, I entered that smoke, and there were security personnel evacuating and preparing the wounded to be transferred to Koševo Hospital. Two people were dead on the spot and remained there. That was the first time I didn't know where I was; I got lost, I was unaware of myself. From the Presidency building, which was hit, I found myself next to the Eternal Flame. I asked myself: 'What next? I captured something and someone has to see it,'" he says in his emotional address.

It is precisely such testimonies in the series The Story Behind the Photo that bring important facts about the siege of Sarajevo and the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina in general.

"We talk about the consequences of the war but also show the extent of the scars and the endured pain of journalists, cameramen, and photographers who reported for media outlets. In this episode, one can see and experience the war trauma that is still present so many years later. In this way, we try to show how truly noble the journalism profession was, both then and today, when we can follow reporting around the world and see its contribution. The sacrifice of media workers is enormous so that the truth is available to us," emphasizes the project's author.

He also added that the entire series and video production would not be possible without the support and help of certain people and institutions.

"I take this opportunity to thank the company 'Domod' for their financial assistance. I also thank the Sarajevo Memorial Centre for their support and partnership. To the staff of Messa and Modul Memorije, especially Nihad Kreševljaković and Hana Bajrović."